Cybersecurity Studies

"Cyber threats pose one of the gravest national security dangers that the United States faces... it's clear that much more work needs to be done to enhance our cybersecurity." Former President Barack Obama

An increasingly connected world economy and the growing virtual existence for almost all existing organizations makes cybersecurity as relevant as local or national security for our society. A stable world and a safe virtual environment are essential elements for a peaceful world. This program leverages the powerful resources of Duquesne University in Mathematics, Computer Science and Security Studies to meet the needs of students and of society at large.

As a Cybersecurity Studies major at Duquesne, you will learn how to:

  • Evaluate the cyber-security needs of an organization
  • Assess and develop risk management policies in order to protect well the confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of an organization's information and assets
  • Support and secure information and assets as needed to support an organization's mission
  • Research, learn, and apply new cyber-security technology in order to keep skills current
  • Apply these skills in a professional manner, including documenting their work, communicating clearly and appropriately, and following appropriate ethical and professional standards of conduct

You will also enjoy the following benefits:

  • A program that combines policy studies and technological information to help you develop expertise in human analytic skills as well as technical security measures
  • Courses taught by internationally recognized Ph.D faculty
  • Capstone course that features a major project to help develop a portfolio of visible skills
  • Opportunity to participate in faculty research projects, publish findings and present work nationally and internationally
  • Faculty mentor to advise you about curriculum, independent study, internships, and career plans
  • Possibilty of a double major with computer science, data science, international studies and international relations

 

Program Type

Major

Degree

Bachelor's

School

McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts

Duration

4-year

Program Requirements

Students are required to take 21 credits worth of their major coursework in the Mathematics & Computer Science department. These courses include:
  • MATH 135 Discrete Mathematics
  • COSC 160 Computer Programming: Java
  • COSC 215 Data Structures in Java
  • COSC 220 Computer Organization & Assembly Language
  • COSC 325W Operating Systems
  • COSC 460 Computer Security
  • COSC/IR 464 Cybersecurity Studies Capstone Project

Students must also take 12 credit hours from the International Security Studies program, including:

  • IR 404 Introduction to Information Awareness
  • IR 432 Network Situational Awareness
  • IR 462 Applied Threat Systems

Plus one three-credit IR security course from the ISS Requirements or Security courses.

Minor in Cybersecurity Studies (15 credits)

For the Cybersecurity Studies minor, students are required to take four of the following classes: 

  • IR 404 Introduction to Information Awareness
  • IR 432 Network Situational Awareness
  • IR 462 Applied Threat Systems
  • IR 470 Cybersecurity Leadership and Strategy
  • COSC 160 Computer Programming: Java
  • COSC 215 Data Structures in Java

In addition, students are required to take one of the following six 3-credit courses: COSC 300, IR 405, IR 406, IR 407, IR 422W, IR 423W. Students with CSS minors are not allowed to count more than three minor courses towards degrees in Computer Science, International Relations, or International Security Studies.